Stress Corrosion Cracking Inspection Experts

Stress corrosion cracking occurs in systems made from carbon steel, stainless steel, and other metals, and it requires expert inspection and analysis to find and analyze it. G2MT Labs uses state-of-the-art technology for stress corrosion cracking (SCC) inspection; new technologies that allow early detection and repair/monitoring of areas that are susceptible to SCC. As the name implies, stress corrosion cracking [1] is intimately tied to stress levels in pipelines and SCC can often go unnoticed to the naked eye while microscopic damage occurs underneath the surface.

Is it really stress corrosion cracking?

Identifying stress corrosion cracking is a challenge because the worst damage usually happens below the surface where it remains unseen. There is also a long-standing debate on the naming of corrosion, which includes a variety of more specific type with names such as sulfide stress corrosion cracking, hydrogen-assisted stress corrosion cracking. An enormous amount of failures have been attributed to stress corrosion cracking over the last century.

Certain areas of pipelines are more susceptible to SCC, particularly welds and areas of pipeline damage such as dents, bends, and gauges. Nondestructive inspection techniques must be able to accurately distinguish between seam welds and other pipeline features, and then discern SCC from those signals. Our SCC inspection experts have the experience to find SCC and provide an effective RBI or FFS analysis to help you determine how to proceed.

Stress corrosion cracking requires stresses and a corrosive environment. When these are present, it is up to the plant operators to select appropriate materials that are cost-effective. These are the basic steps for controlling SCC:

Selection of Materials – The susceptibility to SCC is known for many environments and materials, and can be used to select appropriate materials with resistance to SCC.

Design – Appropriate design can practices can reduce the highest stresses in the structures.

Control of Stresses – Stress relief heat treatments, surface processing (shot peening and similar processes), and hydrostatic testing can all reduce the susceptibility to SCC.

Control of Environment – Many times this is not possible, but the environment factor can be modified by inhibitors, coatings, and potential control, among other methods.

To learn how our stress corrosion cracking analysis team can help you, please call us at 888-308-9084 or go here:

The image of stress corrosion I see
Is that of a huge unwanted tree
Against whose trunk we chop and chop,
But which outgrows the chips that drop;
And from each gash made in its bark
A new branch grows to make more dark
The shade of ignorance around its base,
Where scientists toil with puzzled face.
(by S P Rideout 1967)

Like what you saw? Please share this page:

Are you ready?

G2MT Laboratories, LLC

Our team is both efficient and trustworthy; we strictly maintain our integrity by always reporting in an ethical and honest manner. Our key focus is providing the highest level of quality and service: reports are delivered quickly, accurately, and we follow through on our projects until your issues are fully addressed.
Try us today and you'll see why we are the fastest-growing metallurgical service provider in the US!